Protests continue in US after ICE shooting in Minneapolis
Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Minneapolis on Saturday in one of the largest protests yet against the US government’s deportation campaign, following the killing of a woman by a federal immigration agent earlier this week. The march was part of a coordinated wave of more than 1,000 rallies organized across the country over the weekend.
The protests were sparked by the death of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was shot on Wednesday by an officer with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite biting winds and freezing conditions, crowds moved through the city led by Indigenous Mexican dancers, eventually reaching the residential area where Good was killed while sitting in her car.
Participants chanted Good’s name and repeated slogans including “Abolish ICE” and “No justice, no peace — get ICE off our streets.” The Minneapolis Police Department estimated attendance at tens of thousands.
“I’m insanely angry, completely heartbroken and devastated, and then just like longing and hoping that things get better,” said Ellison Montgomery, a 30-year-old demonstrator, speaking to Press.
Divergent ICE Accounts
Accounts of the shooting have sharply diverged. Minnesota officials described the killing as unjustified, citing bystander video that they say shows Good’s vehicle turning away from the agent at the moment shots were fired. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, insisted the officer acted in self-defense, arguing that Good accelerated her car toward agents after being ordered to exit the vehicle. DHS also said Good volunteered with a local group that monitors and documents ICE activity in Minneapolis.
The incident occurred shortly after DHS sent roughly 2,000 federal officers to the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, a deployment the agency described as its largest operation to date. The move intensified tensions between the administration of President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in Minnesota.
Those tensions deepened further on Thursday after a US Border Patrol agent in Portland, Oregon, shot and wounded two people during a vehicle stop. DHS used similar language to justify that shooting, claiming the driver attempted to “weaponize” the car against officers.
In response to the two incidents, a coalition of progressive and civil liberties organizations, including Indivisible and the American Civil Liberties Union, organized nationwide actions under the banner “ICE Out For Good,” scheduling events during daylight hours to reduce the risk of violence.
Nationwide anti-ICE protests
In Philadelphia, demonstrators marched from City Hall to a federal detention center, chanting “ICE has got to go” and “No fascist USA,” according to local media. In Manhattan, hundreds carried anti-ICE signs past an immigration court where agents have detained migrants following hearings.
“We demand justice for Renee, ICE out of our communities, and action from our elected leaders. Enough is enough,” said Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible.
While most demonstrations remained peaceful, Minneapolis authorities reported isolated incidents of property damage. The city said protests late Friday caused about $6,000 in damage at the Depot Renaissance Hotel, with additional attempts by demonstrators to enter the Hilton Canopy Hotel, which officials believe was housing ICE personnel. Police deployed more than 200 officers overnight, making 29 arrests.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the gathering near the Hilton began as a “noise protest” before escalating. “We initiated a plan and took our time to de-escalate the situation, issued multiple warnings, declaring an unlawful assembly, and ultimately then began to move in and disperse the crowd,” he said.
Mayor Jacob Frey said earlier on Saturday that the city would not allow unrest to spiral, stressing that peaceful protest would be respected while unlawful activity would not. “We will not counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our own brand of chaos,” Frey said. “He wants us to take the bait.”
